![]() ![]() White, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, red, brown, and black.There are two levels of purple and three levels of brown belt in this system. Shotokan Karate belt ranks go in this order: white, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, and black. ![]() However, as your skills develop you’ll earn 1, 2, or even 3, stripes on your belt before graduating to the next color. For example, you may remain a white belt for several months as you begin training. Sometimes stripes are added to show progression within a rank before graduating to the next rank. The colors of the belt are typically the same, but the colors go in different order and some systems drop a color or two. Different styles of Karate (and sometimes schools within the same style) use different belt systems. There is no one-size-fits-all ranking system for the Karate belt colors. And it wasn’t until about the 1930s or 40s that the full-color Karate belt system was designed. In the early 1900s, a few more colors were added to the system. White was for beginners, black was for teachers and advanced students.įrom Judo, the system migrated to Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and other martial arts styles. He started giving out belts in his Judo school. Jigoro Kano got the idea from Japanese swimmers who wore a black ribbon around their waist to symbolize their more advanced status. Before that, students were awarded certificates only as they progressed through the ranks. The idea of a colored belt system actually began with Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, in the late 1880s. Wearing a colored belt, or any symbol of their progress or involvement in martial arts, was a dangerous idea. The Real History of Karate Beltsįor centuries in Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate, martial artists practiced in secret. Of course, the real story is a little more practical. The legend makes the belts sound both awesome and ominous. Once the belt turned black, the student was considered a true martial artist. Superstition said that in doing so, they would “wash off” their experience. Students were told never to wash their belts. Over the years, the belt would become stained and dirty with sweat, dirt, and blood. It is said that students were given a white belt when they began their training. There is a legend that you may have already heard about the origins of the Karate belt. Spoiler: Karate is technically less than 100 years old!) The Legend of the Karate Belt’s Origin (If you’re now wondering how young Karate is, check out this post to learn more about Karate’s origins. Though used in many types of martial arts, the belt ranking system is just a little older than Karate itself. It might surprise you to know that the whole idea of using different colored belts to denote a student’s rank isn’t that old. ![]() Earning a black belt isn’t the end of the road in Karate, it is the beginning of a lifelong journey. Of course, you’ll also know that you’ve only just begun. And the end of pride and accomplishment is profound. Most people don’t realize the hours of sweat, tears, and even a little blood that go into earning this prize.īut when you receive your black belt…you’ll know. Only about 3-5% of people who started training in Karate will complete their journey to earning a black belt.Įarning a black belt in Karate is a prestigious honor. The highest belt in Karate, and thus the most coveted, is the black belt. The largest cohort of students have worn this belt and many people never make it past this point. Though most people are only familiar with the two most common belt colors, there may also be more than one level of the same belt color in some karate belt ranking systems.Īs the lowest belt in Karate, the white belt is where everyone starts. There are 9 belt colors in Karate: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, red, brown, and black. Karate Belt Order in Different Karate Styles. ![]()
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